HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1924, Page 10 (Supplement)

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

COLOURED LIGHTING SCHEMES. In furnishing it is very often found that the most carefully thought-out schemes' lose their effect under artificial light. Colours that are beautiful by contrast during the day fade into insignificance at night under the glare of pure white light. It is to overcome this defect thil British, manufaetuvc-rs liave been experimenting with colour-sprayed light bulbs, and at last they have brxm successful in . proilncing * ■ ilelicatelytinted bulb that, despite its colour, absorbs only the minium7:l jrnount of light. The colour is pr.t on by n ■high-power air spray am! afterwards fixed so fhft it is permanent oven to the extrnt of permitting the bulbs to be washed with soap and water. The colours obtainable are flame, yellow, orange, red, green, and blue, and from ther.e it is possible to carry out many combinations jfml harmonies. Beautiful effects are to be obtained •when these bulbs are used in semidirect lighting fixtures with bowls of cut glass. The light is even softer and more diffused wit'h an alabaster howl.

BRIGHT ORNAMENTS. A good method of lumping lira S3 and copper ornaments bright: —Cut a lemon, dip it in table salt, and rub the vessels until they are bright. Then wash them in water, rub dry with a soft cloth, and apply a thin coat of unsalted animal fat lard or suet. Rub off the excess fat, leaving a thin film, wTiich will prevent discolouring by gas fuir.es or atmospheric conditions. This method gives good results at the seaside, where nearly all metal goods must be specially protected if they are to be kept bright. Vegetable oils, like cotton-seed or olive oils, become gummy and are therefore unsuitable for this process. ■ ■ . ... - —

CARE OF CURTAINS. When curtained windows aro opened in windy weather, the curtains are apt to be blown outside and dirtied. A good way of preventing this is to stretch several cords across the window frame. A few screw-eyes fixed on either side of the window frame and a email cleat on one side will provide a. convenient means of fixing the cord when it is wanted. ' A COPPER-STICK. In most homes a copper-stick is used for lifting scalding hot clothes out of the washing-boiler. A bettor appliance for the purpose is a pair of wooden tongs, 18 inches or a coupie of feet long, with the gripping-ends shaped into knobs. Any fairly proficient amateur workman could make the tongs. A spring fitted near the hinge end of the tongs, though notindispensable, will add to their utility. OBSTINATE~SCREWS. It frequently happens that difficulty is experienced in withdrawing a screw from woodwork. The screw may have nisted or the wood jnay have swollen, but in either case the result is tho same, and the screw cannot be withdrawn in tho ordinary way. A few sharp taps with a hammer on the head of the screwdriver will often be sufficient to start an obstinate screw; but, if it will not yield to this treatment, the application of a red-hot poker on the screw-head for a minute or two should enable the screwdriver to get,to work. Another method is to drop paraffin on the screw, which, when it 'has soaked in, will usually ease the strain sufficiently to maUe withdrawal a simple matter. If the head of the screw has rusted away the only thing to do is to cut the woodwork down until a grip can be obtained and withdraw the screw with pliers. Unfortunately, a screwdriver will not fit every screw, and frequently the difficulty in withdrawing a screw is due to the unsuitability of tho tool, and to nothing else.